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Sinusitis

| March 13.2019

Why & How Your Sinusitis & Tinnitus May Be Connected

Sinusitis and tinnitus are a troublesome twosome; however, their connection isn’t particularly obvious. Sinusitis can cause, worsen, or exasperate tinnitus, a ringing in the ears typically associated with hearing loss and exposure to overly loud noises.

But if sinusitis-related tinnitus doesn’t originate with hearing damage, what does cause it? Can tinnitus be temporary? How do you treat sinusitis & tinnitus? Sinus Solutions of South Florida is here to answer these questions and more.

How can a sinus infection affect your years?

Most sinusitis-related ear problems, including tinnitus, are caused by the congestion that occurs during a sinus infection. To better understand this phenomenon, let’s take a second to review a few facts about sinusitis.

Sinusitis most frequently occurs when a virus or bacteria irritates the tissues of your sinus cavities. This irritation can lead to swelling which, in turn, can lead to mucus buildup and congestion.

Your sinus cavities and ears are interconnected systems, so congestion in the sinuses can create ear congestion, as well. Congestion in the ear may block the tube — known as the Eustachian Tube — that connects the middle ear to the outer ear and helps regulate pressure within the ear. When the Eustachian Tube is blocked, the pressure is allowed to build up around the eardrum, which is ultimately what causes ringing in the ears, aka tinnitus.

Pulsatile tinnitus and sinus congestion

While not common, pulsatile tinnitus — tinnitus during which patients claim to hear a sound similar to and in rhythm with their heartbeat — may occur. This type of tinnitus is typically caused by an increase in blood flow.

Sinusitis & tinnitus: Finding sinus ear ringing treatment

Fortunately, sinusitis-related tinnitus tends to go away with treatment of the sinus infection. As a minimally-invasive procedure, balloon sinuplasty can be performed in-office in less than 20 minutes on patients with a medical sinus obstruction.

During this procedure, your otolaryngologist uses an endoscope to place a tiny balloon within your sinus cavity. Once inflated, this balloon can expand your sinuses, restoring drainage to areas that are blocked or too small for mucus to flow properly.

The procedure has the added benefit of requiring little-to-no recovery time, and the majority of balloon sinuplasty before and after testimonies speak to patients finding years of much-needed sinus relief.

Balloon sinuplasty for sinusitis and tinnitus at Sinus Solutions of South Florida